Door check and closer



March 6, 1951 w. w. WERNER DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Jan. 29, 1948INVENTOR WILLY W. WERNER l0 32 BY 3., 2 M yWa ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6,1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Willy W. Werner,Detroit, Mich.

Application January 29, 1948, Serial No. 5,059

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a door and, in particular, it relates to aspring actuated door check in combination with an adjustable brake shoefor controlling the rate of movement of the mechanism.

Conventional types of door checks frequently use hydraulic means forcushioning the energy of spring returns. In other cases, elaboratearrangements are utilized in which encircling brake bands operate inconjunction with brake drums. I have found that a simplified door checkcan be formed by utilizing a short segment of a brake shoe incombination with a drum and in which actual tensioni'ng of the brakeshoe may be easily adjusted.

I also provide means for easing the tension of the brake mechanism atthat critical point which occurs when the door has reached its closingpoint. This is desirable because as a door reaches its closing point itusually requires an extra effort to completely close the door because ofthe door latch and other frictional engagement between the door and thedoor frame. Furthermore, when the door is in closed position the energyof the spring is at its weakest point. By providing a clearance portionon the brake drum at that critical point when the door reaches itsclosing position, the tension between the brake shoe and the drumbecomes all or partially relieved, thus allowing the full action of theenergy of the spring toclose the door energeti'cally at this point.

It is a further object of my invention to proyide an adjustable screwwhich controls the pressure exerted against the brake shoe and againstthe brake drum. Operation of this screw makes it possible to readily'andaccurately-adjust the tension of the door check in a wide range pfresist'ai lcev against the action of the. return "spring; In addition, Iprovide an equalizing spring positioned between the adjusting screw and.the brake shoe for the purpose of obtaining, still further, an accuratepressure of the shoe against the drum so as to overcome any variables,such as. irregularities in the drum surface or variations which may be.due to temperature 01' humidity.

A still further object. of my invention is the provision of means formaintaining the door in open position. This is effected. by a springsupported ball which latches with the movable portion of the door checkwhen the door is moved to a completely open position. This means is thatthe door may be closed from its fixed open position by merely moving,the door firmly in .the direction of its closed position.

It is, therefora'among the objects of my invention to provide a doorcheck which will function effioiently throughout a long span ofcontinuous service; to provide a door check which may be easily andquickly adjusted in respect to tensioning. which controls the rate atwhich the door is closed; to provide a door check in which tension isrelieved. at about the moment the door is closing so as to permit a fullaction. of the spring to elfect a proper and. complete closing. of. thedoor; to provide a door check which, when a door is pushed completelyopen, will. remain in such. open position. until manually closed; and,to provide a door check which will operate efficiently throughout a widerange of variables, and which can be manufactured economically. Theseand other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure I is a plan View of an assembly of a door check representing apreferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a View, in section, of a. portion of the door check takenalong. lines llI-I:I of Figure 1;

Figure'3 is a plan view, in section, taken along lines III-III of Figure2; and,

Figure 4 is a plan view, in section, of. a portion of the door checkmechanism illustrating a modificatio-nof my invention.

With reference tov the drawing and, in particular, to Figures 1. and 2,Isholw an embodiment. of my invention comprising a main bracket l, ahousing 2, and an arm 3 extending from the housing. A link .4 ispivotally connected to the; arm 3 by means of a stud 5,. and. anadjusting screw 5 joins with the link 4 and is pivotally connected to abracket 1 by means of a stud 8.

It is intended that the main bracket 5 be fastened at the top of a doornear that edge of the door which is hinged to the frame. The bracket 1is fastened. to the door frame and sufiiciently above the door so as. topermit its passage thereunder. In other Words, thelocatlon of the doorcheck, as provided herein, is similar to the location at which. mostconventional door checks are positioned.

The bracket I is provided with. supporting ribs 9, and also includes acentral post it and an axially projecting shaft H. is. formed betweenvthe post H] and, the shaft H. Positioned radially from. the; post lll adrum A shoulder l2 I3, also an integral part of the bracket I. It is tobe understood that the bracket I and its associated parts, such as thepost It] and the drum I3, may be formed of separate components assembledtogether in attaching relationship. However, I prefer that these partsbe formed of a single unit, such as a casting or die casting made,preferably, of aluminum. The housing 2 includes a sleeve Hi which fitsover the shaft II and forms a stop with the shoulder I2. A machine screwI5 holds the housing in pivotal relationship with the frame I.

A cavity I6 is formed within the inner periphery of the housing 2 andprovides a space for the reception of a brake shoe I I. Essentially, thebrake shoe consists of an annular seement having an arcuate length equalto less than 90 degrees of the drum I 3, and it includes a shoe memberI8 and a brake lining I9. The lining I9 may be riveted or cemented tothe shoe member I8. An adjustable screw 29 is threaded through the wallof the housing 2 and includes a projecting tip 2| which engages with andsupports the shoe member I8. Adjustment of the screw 2|] determines thetension applied between the brake shoe I? and the drum I3.

A helical flat section spring 22 constitutes the principal energy meansfor returning the door to its closed position. A slot 23 is formed inthe housing 2, and a tip 2d of the spring 22 projects into the slot 23for retention of the spring. In a similar manner, the opposite end ofthe spring includes a projection 25 which enters a slot 26 formed in thebracket I.

' As shown in particular in Figure 3, the drum 13, at least its outercircumference, is not a true circle, but is provided with apartiallyflat or relieved portion 21. This flat portion is located in such aposition so that it relieves substantially all tension between th drumI3 and the brake shoe I? when the door is approximately in its closedposition,

Provision is made for maintaining the door in its full open positionwhen such is desired. This arrangement consists of a ball 21 retained inan aperture 28 in the bracket I, and supported by a spring 29 held inplace by a plate 30 attached to the frame I by means of a machine screwSI. Diametrically opposite to the ball 21, as appearing in Figure 2, isa cavity 32 at the edge of the housing 2. When the door is in a wideopen position the cavity 32 engages the ball 2'! and the door ismaintained in its open position until it is manually closed by exertinga firm pressure against the door.

As shown in Figure 4, I illustrate a modification of my invention andshow a portion of a housing 2a and a brake shoe I711. The brake shoecomprises a supporting shoe Mia and a brake lining 59a. A screw 28ahaving a projecting portion 2Ia engages with and supports the shoemember ISa. The essential difference between this modification and thatillustrated in Figure 3 is that a flat spring 33 is interposed betweenthe screw 29a and the shoe member Illa. The shoe member I8a is slidablymounted on the tip 2Ia of the adjusting screw 20a. The spring 33 may beattached to the shoe member 'I8a by means such as a rivet 34. By'thisconstruction a spring tension exists between the brake shoe and the drumI3, It provides a greater degree of control and adjustability of thetension between the shoe and the drum. It also overcomes anyirregularities in the drum or the brake lining, and it also overcomesany variables due to expansion or contraction resulting from heat orhumidity.

In the operation of the door check, the door is opened in the usualmanner. This movement, however, operates to wind the spring 22, thusstoring up energy for closing the door. When the door is released, thespring tends to close the door while the tension of the brake shoelimits the speed of the closing until the door is almost completelyclosed, at which point the brake shoe aligns with the flat portion 21 ofthe brake drum, thereby allowing the full action of the spring to snapthe door shut at that critical point where its energy is most needed.

As thus shown and described, it is believed apparent that I haveprovided a unique and efiicient device for functioning as a door checkso constructed as to permit economy while providing a high degree ofaccurate controllability for door operation. While I have shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it issusceptible of those modifications which appear obviously within thespirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

1. A door check and closer comprising, a bracket for attachment with adoor, a stud projecting from the bracket, a brake drum projecting fromthe bracket and concentric with the stud, a housing adapted to encasethe brake drum and having a central aperture for rotary engagement withthe stud, means for pivotally attaching the housing to the stud, ahelical spring concentric with the stud and having one end attached tothe bracket and the other end attached to the housing, said housinghaving a recess formed in a portion of its circular wall, a brake shoeincluding a support and a brake lining positioned within the recess, abrake shoe adjusting screw extending through the wall of the housing, aspring interposed between said brake shoe and the adjusting screwwhereby an adjustable resilient pressure is applied by the brake shoeagainst said brake drum, an arm projecting from the housing, a secondbracket adapted for attachment to a door frame, and a connecting linkpivotally joining the bracket and the end of said arm projecting fromthe housing.

2. A door check and closer comprising, a bracket for attachment with adoor, a stud projecting from the bracket, a brake drum projecting fromthe bracket and concentric with the stud, a housing adapted to encasethe brake drum and having a central aperture for rotary engagement withthe stud, means for pivotally attaching the housing to the stud, ahelical spring concentric with the stud and having one end attached tothe bracket and the other end attached to the housing, said housinghaving a recess formed in a portion of its circular wall, a brake shoeincluding a support and a brake lining positioned within the recess, abrake shoe adjusting screw extending through the wall of the housing, aspring interposed between said brake shoe and the adjusting screwwhereby an adjustable resilient pressure is applied by the brake shoeagainst said brake'drum, an arm projecting from the housing, a secondbracket adapted for attachment to a door frame, and a connecting linkpivotally joining the bracket and the end of said arm projecting fromthe housing, said brake drum having a flat portion in the path of thebrake shoe whereby the ten sion between the shoe and drum is relieved ata, point when the door is approximately in closed position. Nugllieg55WILLY w. WERNER. 6 1,678,701

REFERENCES CITED 37 The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sullivan Nov. 25, 1902 Moore July 31,1928 Hendry May 27, 1930 Mitchell Oct. 21, 1930

